favors
Yelena carries miscellaneous items in her pockets on her vest. She worked hard to get them and usually did small favors in exchange for them. Filing paperwork, fetching food, carrying boxes. Yelena bartered with other agents. She found that scientists were most agreeable for exchanges so Yelena gets to know them just like she knew the ones on the base.
She mainly collected high-calorie bars from the scientists. They were developing them for agents to use in the field to keep their energy up. They’d let Yelena have one if she’d do something simple for them. Sometimes it was even as simple as trying one of the new flavors.
Yelena also collects sticks of gum from one of the soldiers that chewed it as they help lands planes on the strip on the helicarrier. She’d often have to fetch them a soda from the cafeteria in exchange.
Then there were other things that she did favors for as well. She’d need to ask twice sometimes.
Yelena’s passing Bobbi a piece of candy from her vest when another item fell out and rolled on the ground.
Bobbi leans down and picks it up, turning it over in her hands. “What is this?”
Yelena glances down at the object before looking back up at Bobbi. “It’s a cigarette.”
A myriad of emotions flickered over Bobbi’s face. “Why do you have it?”
“Because…” Yelena reaches out for it but Bobbi holds it out of reach. Yelena paused, unsure of why Bobbi looked upset. “Bobbi?”
“Turn your pockets out,” Bobbi orders and Yelena froze. “Now.”
“Why?” Yelena questioned, her hand still held out for the cigarette.
“Turn out your pockets or I’ll take you to the Deputy Director,” Bobbi said and Yelena doesn’t understand what she did wrong or why Bobbi would take her to Maria for a cigarette.
“Why?” Yelena repeats, reaching toward her pockets. The appearance of a second cigarette causes Bobbi to set a firm hand onto Yelena’s shoulder to march her toward Maria’s office.
Yelena’s confused when Bobbi steers her directly in front of Maria’s desk before slamming the two cigarettes down.
“She has contraband.” Bobbi tells Maria who looks down at the cigarettes.
“It’s not contraband,” Yelena’s read the rules, she knows that there’s nothing against cigarettes.
Maria lets out a tired sigh. “Empty your vest pockets.” She orders Yelena.
Yelena glances from Bobbi to Maria. She wants to ask why but Maria’s the Deputy Director, not her Supervising Officer. She won’t be lenient like Bobbi.
“Now, Belova.” Maria orders.
At the use of her last name, Yelena makes haste to unzip her pockets and empty the contents onto the desk in front of her. It was mainly candy at first, two high-calorie bars, three more cigarettes, sticks of gum, bobby pins, some steri-strips, some band-aids, and a shot of adrenaline.
Maria immediately snatches the last object up, turning it over in her hands. “Where did you get this?” She demands.
“It’s not against the rules.” Yelena said. Maria should know that, she knew the rules better than anyone else.
Maria raised an eyebrow before repeating her question. “Where did you get this?”
Yelena echoes her first answer. “I didn’t break the rules!”
“What did you do to get this?” Maria shakes the adrenaline shot. “Did you steal it?”
“No!” Yelena shakes her head. “I did favors!”
Maria stares at Yelena for a few moments. “What kind of favors?” She then demands and Yelena can see the brief flash of concern that comes over Maria’s face. The commander glances at Bobbi quickly before looking back at Yelena. “Rookie Agent Belova, I asked you a question!”
Yelena flinches slightly at the raised voice. “Just-- just favors!”
“Hey.” Bobbi pipes up, stepping around Yelena to stand next to Maria. While her voice wasn’t as loud as Maria’s, it still held the same serious tone. “Did someone take advantage of you for these items?”
Yelena squints at her and the way she words it. “Are you asking me if I seduced people for them?” She’s not entirely sure if that’s what Bobbi’s asking.
“No.” Bobbi shakes her head, her voice firm. “Look at me. You are underaged. Because of that, you cannot consent. You can not seduce people.”
“But I’ve done it before?” They know that. Yelena asked Maria about it the first time they met. She’s confused and overwhelmed. She wonders if they’d get upset with her if she asked for Natalia.
“Empty the rest of your pockets,” Maria orders, eyeing Yelena’s cargo pants. Yelena turns out the rest of her pockets, adding to the pile a photo strip, a half-finished packet of Pop-Tarts, and a napkin.
Maria picks up the photo strip, turning it over in her hands. Yelena’s heart drops when she sees Maria touch it. “Don’t tear it up!” She blurts the plea.
Maria glances up at her. “I’m not going to tear it up.” She placates, setting the photograph down. “How did you get these?” She picks up the cigarettes.
Yelena doesn’t reply. She refuses to get anybody else in trouble for it. She’s not a snitch. “They’re mine. I earned them.” She glances down at the items spread out on the desk.
“What could you possibly need cigarettes for? I’ve never seen you smoke,” Maria asked, and Yelena ducks her head down.
“Nicotine helps you feel warm on cold nights,” She offers out the tidbit of information before adding on the real reason. “It can also stave off hunger pains.”
“And the shot of adrenaline? What could you possibly need that for?” Maria holds up the capped injection.
“To fight off shock…” Yelena replies. Shouldn’t they know this? Haven’t they ever had to need one?
“Who gave these objects to you?” Maria questioned once again and upon Yelena’s silence, she issues a warning. “I can count this as a weapon.”
“It’s not a weapon!” Yelena shakes her head. “I’m not breaking the rules!”
“Tell me who gave this to you!” Maria orders, standing and Yelena shrinks back. “Now, Belova!”
“Commander…” Bobbi murmurs, glancing at her.
“Answer me!” Maria slams her hand down on the desk and Yelena forces herself not to flinch.
“You said you’re not the Red Room!” The words are blurted from Yelena’s lips and the reaction that it had on the two women makes the room go quiet. Yelena didn’t mean to say it but there was too much yelling and she didn’t understand and was confused and overwhelmed.
Maria stood there stiffly, staring at Yelena as if she can’t believe Yelena uttered those words. She takes a deep breath, closing her eyes briefly as she collects herself. “And I’m not the Red Room.” She spoke, her voice much calmer and softer than before. “Did one of my agents have sex with you in exchange for any of these items?”
“No.” Yelena shakes her head.
“What about sexual favors?” Bobbi pipes up and Yelena shakes her head again.
“No. No, I didn’t.” Yelena peers up at them. “If you’re gonna take my things then can I please have my photo back?” She asked softly. “I only have the one.”
“I’m not taking your things,” Maria tells Yelena but holds up the adrenaline shot. “Will this make you feel safer if you have it on you?”
“I don’t know,” Yelena said quietly.
“Then I’m going to keep a hold on this for you. But everything else is yours,” Maria said.
“Even the cigarettes?” Bobbi questioned, glancing at Maria. “I don’t think--”
“Morse.” Maria levels her with a stare. “You brought this to me to handle it. I’ve handled it.”
Yelena snatches the picture up first, brushing her fingers over the tiny smiling faces of her and Natalia before carefully sliding it back into her pocket. She starts to fill her pockets again, the five cigarettes on the desk were the last left.
“Did I break a rule?” Yelena asked because Maria had seemed so upset with her and Yelena can’t fathom what rule she broke.
“Technically? No.” Maria shakes her head. “I… I’m sorry for raising my voice at you.”
Yelena scoops the cigarettes up and replaces them in her vest. She still waits for a dismissal. “Am I in trouble?”
“No. No, you’re good to go. Your sister should be getting back any moment now,” Maria said and Yelena glances at Bobbi.
“You’re dismissed, kiddo.” Bobbi said and the nickname eases a knot in Yelena’s stomach as she turns to leave and heads to the airstrip, scooping up a Diet Coke from the cafeteria along the way. She holds it out to the soldier loudly snapping their gum. They grin at her, pulling out a foil wrapped stick of gum from their pocket and takes the can, setting the stick in Yelena’s hand.
Yelena adds the gum to her pile and waits with the soldier for her sister to come back from where she had disappeared to with Clint.
Yelena still has an anxious energy buzzing just under her skin as she waits. When the plane touches down and Clint gets off first, Yelena moves toward the plane. Clint ruffles her hair as he passes by, banged up and cradling one arm. Yelena’s face falls slightly when she sees Natalia. She looks tired. Like there’s something heavy weighing on her shoulders and she can’t get away from it.
Yelena moves forward, walking next to Natalia until they get back to their bunk. As soon as the door closes, Yelena turns and wraps her arms around Natalia. Natalia droops against her, letting out a soft sigh as she returns the hug.
“Where do you and Clint keep going that makes you tired when you return?” Yelena asked Natalia. The redhead just sighs, resting her chin onto Yelena’s shoulder.
“Classified information,” She replies and Yelena wrinkles her nose.
“How is it classified, you’re not even an official agent yet,” Yelena said and Natalia shakes her head so Yelena drops the subject. “Are you hurt?”
Natalia denies it and strips out of her suit to change, letting Yelena look her over for injuries. There were a few bumps and bruises but nothing major so Yelena lets her lie about not being hurt slide.
“I yelled at Maria today.” Yelena comments and Natalia had gone from getting ready to take a nap to her full attention on Yelena.
“Come here,” Natalia holds her arms out. “And tell me all about it.”
Yelena climbs into bed, practically laying on top of Natalia as she snuggles close and starts to detail her day.